Vedic Hymns Chanted at Georgia State Capitol

It was the first ever Hindu event at Georgia State Capitol Building in Downtown Atlanta. On the quiet Monday afternoon of August 28th, Hindu Hymns reverberated in the hallways of the State Capitol.

The occasion was the inauguration of an exhibition titled 'Hindu Culture and Dharmic Traditions of India', organized by the Atlanta Chapter of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS). Priest Srinivasa Sarma from the Hindu Temple of Atlanta (HTA) chanted the hymns from the most ancient Hindu scriptures, the Vedas, while Georgia State Representatives Pedro Marin, Brooks Coleman and Tom Rice inaugurated the Exhibition by the symbolic removal of the white sheet covering the Exhibit panels.

The south atrium of the capitol building was packed with the who's who of the Atlanta Hindu-American community as well as many young professionals taking off from their lunch breaks to witness a new beginning for the Hindu community at the Capitol. The event started with a welcome address by Sandeep Parashar, the Atlanta coordinator of the Exhibition. Representative Pedro Marin, representing Georgia District 96 that is a part of Gwinnett County invited the Hindu-American community to empower themselves by joining the diverse political mainstream. He also welcomed HSS to host the Exhibition during the months of January to March when the Capitol is in session.

The Exhibition titled 'Hindu Culture and Dharmic Traditions of India' is a bird's eye view of the vast Hindu cultural heritage such as Yoga, Ayurveda and ancient Hindu achievements in Math and the Sciences.

Narendra Reddy, executive member of the HTA and chairman of the Georgia Indian American Republican Council (GIARC), read a letter by the Governor of Georgia, Sonny Purdue, congratulating HSS for bringing the Exhibition at the State Capitol. Sneha Mehta, President of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Atlanta Chapter, read a similar letter by the Secretary of State, Cathy Cox.

The representatives were given copies of a coffee table version of the exhibition by Vasav Mehta, Sushma Sharma and Dr Raj Gandhi. Saumitra Gokhale, coordinator of HSS activities in the American continents, gave a brief introduction to HSS and the exhibition. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Srikanth Konda in which he thanked all the Atlanta Hindu temples for supporting this event. For more details about the exhibition contact Sandeep Parashar at 404-751-8896.

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